Posted on 11/28/2022 7:40:31 PM PST by Pilgrim's Progress
“When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall . . . Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he” (Proverbs 29:16, 18).
“When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth,” well that just makes sense, “but the righteous shall see their fall,” now that's not always so obvious. That's that prudent business, knowing that the outcome is that God’s going to make everything right. Now, verse 16 is a Tribulation passage, when the wicked are multiplied. In the tribulation, transgression will increase. Recall what he said about in the Holy Place where the abomination of desolation will occur. In Daniel 9:24 it is called the “transgression:” “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.”
“When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth,” Tribulation, “but the righteous shall see their fall,” Second Coming.
Now, we always use the verse in the sense of how it affects us or relates to us but that's not how the verse is meant; that's not really the interpretation of it in the context. Now, look at it, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: BUT HE THAT KEEPETH THE LAW, happy is he.” See, the vision here is a vision of judgment on your sins. Where there is no vision of judgment or hell, the people perish. “If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost” (II Corinthians 4:3), blinded by “the god of this world” (4:4). And the people are blind to the outcome of sin, that's the person that lacks the ability to judge the future.
“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law,” see, there is a person that has got vision. He knows that “the wages of sin is death.” He knows, “Be sure your sins will find you out.” He knows that, and because of that, he avoids that reaping. I do not understand people that know that they are going to hell and know all they need to do is receive Jesus Christ as their Saviour, and they just sit there doing about it. You can tell them, “You are going to go to hell, you are going to face judgment, you are going to face God,” and they say, “Yeah, I know.” I just can’t understand that. “What are you going to do about it?” “Nothing now, I’ll take care of it later.”
“I mean, when are you going to take care of it, man? You act like you going to live forever!” I guess they figure that when things bad, and their heart goes bad, some doctor will just give me a rubber one or a plastic one and keep him alive. They just don’t fear death, and they don’t fear God. I really believe that they think they are going to live forever, and they'll be suddenly be cut off, and that without remedy.
Now, we generally apply it this way. The saved are to have a vision for the lost: “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:36-38).
When Jesus saw the multitudes, he had compassion on them. That's a vision. See, that's a spiritual vision. So, you send them the gospel because they can't hear without it (Romans 10:14). That's a vision. You got people around the world. You've never seen their country, but you know they are there and lost. You have a vision of Africans dying and going to hell. You have a vision of Asians dying and going to hell. So, you send a missionary over to them. How shall they hear unless they be sent a preacher (Romans 10:14). “He that wins souls is wise,” and happy.
“. . . but he that keepeth law, happy as he.” Psalm 126:6, when you bring your sheaves back you come back with rejoicing. Some people have a vision of that. They know that they're going to get a joy and a blessing out of winning souls, so they have a vision and when people lose that vision, the lost perish, but that's not really what the verse teaches; what we are making now is a spiritual application. that doctrinal application of the thing is that if a man didn't keep the law, he perishes and a guy that does keep the law saves himself and is also happy.
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